Worried About Coronavirus- thread 38

[TheStarryNight]

New thread

[AliciaWhiskers]

Placemarking

[mrshoho]

Sorry when I say young I think it is under 50's in the first phase of the trial from what I read and then they will move on to over 50 to 70 age group. It's still troubling that it looks as though they are gearing up to have high transmission rates here in the Summer months leading I assume to lockdowns again in the autumn /winter. Otherwise if we continue to socially distance how will these volunteers taking part in the trial contract the virus quickly enough?

[Egghead68]

I think first phase is up to 55 years old.

[mrshoho]

it makes sense now that all the government planning is gearing up to the next wave. There is so much advertising for NHS staff recruitment, even reaching out to the veterinary sector. The nightingale hospitals, the comments regarding the preparation for exams for year 10 and 12 students. I do think at some stage the government will just have to level with us and say what the plan is and what to expect. We then at least can be involved in our own individual planning.

[OldQueen1969]

So this whole package of educational resources and free internet for children in disadvantaged households which is of course admirable - does it imply schools will be closed for the long haul? And apparently no plans to open the schools over the summer holidays....... yet Harries suggests that schools are not unsafe environments and would have been closed sooner if they were? Anybody else thinking that contradictory information is the main staple of the daily briefing?

And what about the leaked email about gowns being six weeks away that was completely ignored?

Is anybody else feeling a but "fuck it" while simultaneously following da rulez and wondering if it's partly magical thinking?

[pocketem]

Ugh. Oxbridge Jenny Harries coming out with the arrogant British exceptionalism yet again. It was bad enough a few weeks ago when she claimed the WHO advice to test, test, test was only for poor countries, not proper ones like us. She was proven to be comprehensively wrong on that and even the CMO has acknowledged that testing helped Germany and South Korea, and that we need to ramp up testing. Yet now she comes out with the same drivel again, claiming we have tested enough?

Anthony Costello is scathing about her, as are the replies from virologists and NHS professionals to his tweet. She needs sacking.


twitter.com/globalhlthtwit/status/1251900296558784512?s=20

[Comenext]

Ugh. Oxbridge Jenny Harries coming out with the arrogant British exceptionalism yet again.
I quite agree. Why is UK out of step with the other nations?
Also, this 'plan' is ageist and unfair. Are other countries treating their OAPs like second-class citizens? One law for the poor old pensioners and another for the rich young yuppies. It stinks!
On a brighter note, the Conservatives will find the whole demographic has changed at the next election. The older voters will no longer be with us and the younger voters will finally be in a majority.

[mrshoho]

I feel it will be in waves with stop/starts so continued disruption to schools. I suppose we will hopefully be more organised as we learn to cope with it all. But the government will have to have agreements with schools and unions and work with them. That's why they are going to have to give us some forecast as to what the next 12 months looks like.

So much of this scientific evidence does not make sense eg. school environments are not unsafe yet sitting in an open park at a distance to other people is irresponsible and high risk.

[Carlislemumof4]

I interpreted Gavin Williamson's comments at the press conference as indicating schools will be closed to all but keyworker's children until at least September, possibly longer.

I'd prefer next January onwards but am hugely relieved if September is the earliest mine will be back, the media reports of three weeks time had me panicked.

[OldQueen1969]

So the testing thing - is it lack of people to do the testing? Lack of tests? What about that article the other day when someone in a lab capable of doing tens of thousands of tests a day was saying they are done by lunchtime and twiddling their thumbs?

Oh yes, and the phrase "adult conversation" as if questioners are whiny toddlers or recalcitrant teens?

Have we got enough ventilators now?

Why are UK manufacturers offering their plants for PPE production being ignored? WTAF is going on?

[mrshoho]

Our school is still making plans for a phased return starting sometime in May??? Who knows though?

[pocketem]

If it was up to Jenny Harries we'd still be having mass gatherings like concerts and sporting matches now

[Comenext]

Part of the plan is wearing face masks on Public Transport. So why not all of us wear face masks everywhere. That would stop the transmission of the virus (partly at least).
Oh, I know why ..... we haven't got enough face masks. (Face palm)

[Keepdistance]

I suspect lack of tests is down to lack of ppe to do them.
Other countries are doing antibody tests and releasing results from the testing

[HeIenaDove]

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/yhn-pregnant-coronavirus-lockdown-engineer-18108795


Mum-to-be "threatened and lied to" as she is forced to break lockdown and let engineer into her flat
Leonie Shiamtanis has slammed Your Homes Newcastle for forcing her to allow a gas engineer into her flat while she is self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic


A mum-to-be claims she was threatened and lied to by “shameful” Newcastle housing bosses, who have been accused of putting council home tenants at risk during the coronavirus crisis.

Leonie Shiamtanis, who is 29 weeks pregnant, is self-isolating to protect herself and her unborn child during the pandemic, but was shocked when Your Homes Newcastle threatened her with legal action if she did not let a gas inspector into her Kenton flat for a routine safety check despite lockdown restrictions.
Then after being assured that the engineer would be wearing protective equipment to avoid spreading Covid-19, they instead arrived in a t-shirt and joggers and without the promised gloves, mask, and disinfectant

The 29-year-old teacher, who is at even greater risk from coronavirus as she suffers with asthma, has now warned that vulnerable YHN tenants and the organisation’s engineers are being put at risk through “lack of protection and lying

She said: “Why be put into lockdown and not allowed to see my family that live in a different home, but have to be forced to have a stranger in my home unprotected that has been in 10 different houses through the day? I tried to follow government guidelines but I was threatened and lied to and my family was put at risk.”

Having initially told YHN that she could not let any engineer in because she was self-isolating, Ms Shiamantis was sent a letter warning that they would obtain a warrant and enter her home “by force” and with police in attendance if necessary.

She said the warning was “very distressing” at a time when she is coping with the pressures of the Covid-19 crisis while being pregnant with her first child.

But after she and her boyfriend, Aaron Whitfield, agreed to the gas safety check having been promised that the engineer would be kitted out with PPE, the couple were furious when he arrived with only some hand sanitiser in his van and no other protective gear.

Ms Shiamtanis, of Ambridge Way, immediately rang YHN to complain and claims she was then told that 50 tenants a day were calling with similar concerns and that call centre staff were “saying whatever they need to just to get people off the phone”.

After feeling “backed into a corner, threatened and lied to”, she has now urged YHN to make urgent changes to avoid other vulnerable or elderly people being put at risk – as well as the engineers who are visiting multiple homes across the city every day.

She added: “I feel sorry for the engineers just as much as I feel sorry for us. They are having to go to loads of different places and it is not fair.

“It is really, really hard. My partner has an older daughter, but this is my first child and we can’t share what is supposed to be an amazing time with our family.

“We live on the top floor of a three-storey building, so we can’t go outside or into a garden.

“My mum can’t come and visit us, but we have had to let this person in. It seems unfair.”

YHN has pledged to ensure call centre staff give out “correct information” about PPE and to amend the letters they sent out threatening legal action.

A spokesperson for Your Homes Newcastle said: “We would like to apologise to Ms Shiamtanis for any distress she has experienced and understand that this is a worrying time for her and many of our residents.

“The wellbeing and safety of our customers and staff is of our utmost concern and we would like to reassure all our customers that our trade staff are instructed to adhere to all social distancing guidance set out by the Government when undertaking work in people’s homes

This includes maintaining a two-metre distance from any occupants at all times, washing hands before and after visiting homes and regularly using hand sanitser.

“As per Government guidance, full PPE is not required to carry out work in people’s homes and in light of Ms Shiamtanis’ complaint we have reiterated this message to our contact centre staff to ensure customers are given the correct information should they contact us for advice.

“We have also taken action to review and amend the letter Ms Shiamtanis received threatening legal action. While we remain legally obligated to carry out gas safety checks and pursuing court action is part of this process, we appreciate that the standard letter does not reflect the current situation and the additional worries some residents may be experiencing

[DakotaFanny]

mrs hoho the comments regarding the preparation for exams for year 10 and 12 students.

What are these comments please? Asking as mum of a year 10 and a secondary teacher. Quite worried about these year groups, so interested to hear anything you know about them. Thanks.

[HeIenaDove]

Am i surprised? Nope!!

[Oakmaiden]

Oxbridge Jenny Harries coming out with the arrogant British exceptionalism yet again.

I think it is important to remember that the people giving briefings will not necessarily be giving their own opinions, but instead the "party line".

So she might , possibly, be saying things she knows are bollocks because that is her job.

Which of course raises a whole load of other ethical questions.

[Comenext]

So she might , possibly, be saying things she knows are bollocks because that is her job.
Sad but true @Oakmaiden
We have been fed a lot of lies just lately.

[RigaBalsam]

healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/19/response-to-sunday-times-insight-article/

[mrshoho]

Dakota it was the comments made by Williamson today in the press briefing.He said that the government is ordering laptops to help disadvantaged pupils who will be sitting key exams, and free 4G routers will be provided to get those sitting exams to keep them connected and able to complete online learning tasks. It leads me to think we can expect ongoing disruption as by the time they get all that sorted out we'll be in the next school year.

[Egghead68]

Ugh. Oxbridge Jenny Harries

By the by but she does not have an Oxbridge background and what would it matter if she did?

There are plenty of reasons to be annoyed/disgusted with what she is saying but I don’t think her background is one of them.

[StrawberryJam200]

Thanks for that Riga. Presumably very unusual for a government department to officially refute claims in a media article in quite such a detailed manner?

[woodencoffeetable]

the numbers in nl have reduced the last couple of days.
and that without lockdown, however beauty spots, beaches, tulip fields have been closed.

[woodencoffeetable]

schools are exploring if they can re-open after the may holidays (mid may) possibly part time.